Portable picture screen



Feb. 27, 1945. J. Du MAIS PORTABLE PICTURE SCREEN Filed Aug. 28, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l.. J. DU MAIS PORTABLE PICTURE SCREEN Filed Aug. 28, 1943 Feb..27, 14945.

2 Sheecsf-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 27, 1945 PORTABLE PICTURE SCREEN Leo J. Du Mais, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Da-Lite Screen Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 28, 1943, Serial No. 500,437

(Cl. 1GO-24) 13 Claims.

The present invention relates to motion picture screen stands and is more particularly directed` to an improved collapsible portable type which involves a structure wherein the picture screen is carried on a suitable reel to be extended to predetermined lengths and with the structure being such that the screen surface when exposed, will be retained in this exposed condition throughout the various heights to which the screen may be bodily adjusted for use.

In the manufacture of motion picture screens, it is found necessary to construct them with their screen surfaces in rectangular and also in the square sizes, the rectangular size being for use for general motion picture projection and the square sizes being used for lm slides, glass slides, opaque slides and other types of projection slides used in stereopticon projection. As this construction will lend itself for dual purposes-the same may be constructed either in the rectangular or square sizes or to accommodate for both sizes. When the structure is set up, the predetermined exposed length of screen surface will remain in this exposed condition throughout the various heights to which the screen may be bodily adjusted.

To accomplish the above specied features, the structure is provided with a carrying handle from which the adjustments are made, the handle having means thereon with which the release of the collapsed structure is effected for setting up the same and for the adjustment of the screen when it has been opened to usable condition.

The salient features of the invention are the provision of a motion picture screen stand which is light in weight, strong and durable, and arranged to be collapsed for portable purposes and being relatively rigid when set up to support the extended screen and with means whereby the extended screen may be positioned at various heights throughout the length of the stand; the same being controlled by mechanism carried on the handle which serves as a carrying means for the structure when collapsed.

A further object is the provisionof a motion picture screen stand having a main support held upright by a collapsible tripod and with a handle slidable on the support; and an adjustable extension rod telescoped in the support to which the screen Web may be attached to expose various lengths thereof and with the extension rod under the control of the handle for its adjustments; the handle being provided with a pair of latch means releasably connecting said support and extension rod respectively.

A further object is the provision of spring means coacting with the latchng means which are operable independently for independent adjustments of the extension rod and for adjustment of the extended screen web on the structure.` I

A further object is the provision of spring means engageable and tensionable by the extension rod when said rod is telescoped in the support; said rodhaving means thereon to which the free end of the screen web is attached and also serves as a locking means for holding the screen casein locked position parallel with the support; the spring means serving to exert an upward movement on the rod when released, and t0 bev retained in this upward condition under the ten-A sion of the spring. The extension rod beingfree vture embodying my invention, the structure being shown in collapsed condition for portable purposes.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation illustratingA the structure in set-up condition with the screen web extended to its extreme height.

Figure 3 is a vface view of the structure showing the same set-up for projecting pictures of rectangular `formation thereon and inl dot and dash lines as raised to its entire height for square pictures. J

Figure 4 is an enlarged View in rear elevation showing the handle structure and operable means coacting therewith.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4 and showingY the rod compressible spring means at the lower end of the structure for effecting movement of the extension rod when the rod is released.

Figure 6 is a plan sectional view taken substantially on the line lli-,6 of Fig. 5.

.Figure 7 is an exploded detailed perspective view partially broken away illustrating the latch means and the mounting therefor.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detailed fragmentary,v

perspective view of a portion Vof the handle illustrating its attachable means with the structure.`

The structure 'comprises a standard lil having y a tripod Il secured to the lower end thereof, and

which tripod is of a collapsible structure, so as to be folded ilush or parallel with the standard v construction, and it is believed a description of l one will suilice for the description of both. The

upper horizontal portion I6 of the handle has 'its top surface I8 relieved at I9 and is provided with a vertically disposed rectangular opening .20 aligned with the opening in the lower horizontal portion I'I to be slidably positioned on the standard I0. The outermost edge of the handle portions IB and I1 are cut away at 2l to permit the positioning of the latches I4 and 22 respectively, which @are guided 1in amounting 23 that 'is `of "U formation and provided with afrec'tangu'lar opening'l Yinfeachhorizontal portion l24a fthereof and a reduced opening 125 extending therefrom, which are -alignedwith the openings '2U-2U and 4'2I--2=I of Ithe handle. 'The Y.latches "I 4 and 22 lare similar in 'constructionwith :the exception o! lthe `engageable end Iportions thereof as 1will be 4presently described. 'Theengageable portion 2 6 of thelatch I4 is disposed lvertically and `is 'adapted to enter and `:slide through the elongated 'slot lI2 of fthe standard Ill 'tofengage 'a ,stop v'opening 21 in the extension 4rod 2llwhile the engageable por'tion 2B of the latch 22 `is "disposed *horizontally and `is adapted to engage the enlarged formation `I3 provided a'tyarlous positionsalongithe slot open ing I2 .of Jthe standard.

Themounting' isset imposition on the Vhandle I with its horizontally .disposedportions 24 restlng -Ain -the Irecessed portions .I9 o'f 'the handle which aligns Athe openings 2 4 "thereof with the opening of .the handle. 'Then 'the "latches LI4 and 22 are 'set in ,position 'through the .aligned openings "2l and '20 and the reduced shank portions Il'a and 22a of 'the 'latches fit into the reduced openings 25 and 2| of .the mounting .and handle respectively. '.The assembled .unit is then slida'bly positioned over .the standard Il) which extends through the openings '2D-24 and through the openings I4b .and 22h of '.the latches. This construction provides for .an ,easy .assembly .of .the parts and for retaining them in locked position as a unit on the structure.

The screen reel ,structure .is .carried 4.on .the mounting 23 as will be ,presently described,

"The casing 3l) "is provided intermediate ,its length with a center-band 3l which is .secured for turningmovemen'ts ,to 'the .mounting `2 3 Lby a rivet '32. 'The rivet 32 `also .secures asspring 33 positioned inwardly .of .the mounting `and which extends *the entire '.length thereof .and :is -formed to engage and exert a tension on the latches |.4 and 22, respectively, ,to :yieldingly urge the latches I4 and 22, respectively, intoathe stop openings .21 of hlirod and into thenotches I3-of the-standar The extension.rodlisslidably mounted in the standard I0 .and is ,guided .therein .by Aa cap 34 xed to the .upper -end .of fthe standard and with aguide 34a .secured to Ythe lower -end of :the :rod 28. When the rod .eis in zits :lowermost-position, the latch .I4 is Aurged by fthe sspring .33 with the end 2.8 of .the.latchjonengagement wtha notch opening 2.1. When the Jrodris xe1eased,;it=is slidable the distance between the stop openings 2l to be gripped by the extension 26 of the latch which retains the rod in fixed adjusted positions with respect to the handle on which the latch is mounted. The latches are formed to project over the handle and are operable therefrom, the lower latch being operable to release the extension rod 28 and the upper ,latch 22 is `operable for adjustment of the handle and rod ybodily on the stand ard 'I 0.

,The extension rod 28 is formed to provide an outward projection 28a at its upper end to which 4the free-end 35 of the screen web 36 may be at- I4 which permits the release of the extension rod 28 to be spring-impelled upwardlyby the spring 4I. This spring 4I will give *the rod an 'upward impetus and hold the same in'raised position A'with the depending pin 39 out vof the opening 40 `of the case end cap 38 to release 'the case Awhich is then free'tobeswunghorizontally on'its pivot v32. When the case is in'horiaontal position, the free end 35 of the screen web vmay then be attached to the extension`28ato-extend the screen web to a :predetermined length for use. The tension of the spring -4I will retain therod in raised position, rso 4that; after the screen is attached to the extension, the extension rod 28 may be bodily raised until a notch'2l is aligned'with the engageable portion '26 of (the latch I4 which is springurged therein to retain the Vrod and screen webin lockedposition to the distance therod is extended.

When the screen is;in this extended position, the latch 22 may be released and by gripping the handle I5, the same may be bodily moved the l entire length of the standard I0 and adjusted Ato any desired position thereon .as illustrated in Figure 2, in its lowermost position in dot and dash lines and in extreme up position in full lines. It `is sometimes found desirable to extend the screen'to expose a square surface for projection purposes, such as when using film slides, glass slides, opaque or stereopticon slides, and .to accomplish this result, it is only necessary to again release the latch I4 which vpermits the disengagement thereof with therod 28 which is free to loe raised to its next notch 21 or extreme upward position as illustrated in dot and dash lines Figure 3. The extension rod 28 is limited in its yupward lmovement vbyreason of the guide 34a engaging `the engageable portion 28 of the latch i4. While the screen is extended to rectangular or' square positions, the same maybe bodily moved the entire length of the standard,

between `the tripod II and the guide cap 34, andv may be locked in any desired position 'along the length -of the standard.

When 'the structure is in Ycollapsed condition, Fig. l, the handle I5 then serves as a carrying handle and is located centrally of the length of the case 3U to 'permit of a uniform balance and easy carrying of the structure.

Iclaim:

'1. In a portable collapsible motion picture screen stand, the combination of amain support, a member adjustable longitudinally thereof, a

handle member slidably carried on said main support, latch means on said handle member, one

of the latch means engaging the said adjustable member and a second of said latch means engaging the main support, and spring means exerting a yielding pressure on each of said latch means.

2. In a portable collapsible motion picture screen stand, comprising in combination, a tubular main support, an extension member coacting to extend said main support, a handle member slidably carried on said main support, a case pivotally carried on said handle member, a reel having a screen web lcoiled thereon and pivoted in the case with the free end of the web extending outwardly thereof, means on the free end of the screen web for attachment with said extension member, latch means on the handle member, one of said latch means being engageable With said extension member for supporting the same in extended vposition on the support with a predetermined exposed length of screen web, and a second latch means engageable with said main support for holding said handle member and extension member in adjusted positions on said main support.

3. In a collapsible motion picture screen structure of the character described, a tubular member having a longitudinally disposed slot opening therein and. a plurality of stop notches in said slot opening, an extension member Within said tubular member and provided with a plurality of predetermined stop openings, a handle member slidably carried on said tubular member, a pair of independently operable latch means carried by said handle member, spring means normally urging said latch means into engagement with said tubular and extension members respectively, one of said latch means extending through the slot opening of said tubular member and engageable with a stop opening in said extension member, and the second latch means being engageable with the stop notches in the slot opening of said tubular member.

4. The combination of claim 3 hereof in which there are spring means in said tubular member compressible by said extension member, said spring means being retained in compressed condition While the structure is latched in collapsed position and`urging and holding said extension member in raised position when unlatched and released from its collapsed position. Y

5. In a motion picture screen stand of th character described, comprising, a main support, an extension member adapted to move longitudinally thereof, a handle member slidably carried on said main support, spring-urged manually operable latch means on said handle member, one of said latch means engaging and holding said extension member in normal and extended positions with respect to said handle member, and a second latch means engaging said main support for holding said handle member and extension member in adjusted position on said main support.

6. In a motion picture screen stand, comprising in combination, a tubular main suport, an extension member telescopable within said tubular main support and vertically adjustable to various heights therefrom, a handle member slidably carried on said main support, a reel having a screen web coiled thereon and pivoted on said handle member, means on the free end of said screen web for attachment with said extension member, latch means on the handle member for nov porting the same in normal land extended positions'and for engagement with said main support for holding said extension member to various adjusted heights with respect to said man support.

7. In a structure of the character described, a tubular member having a longitudinally disposed slot opening therein and a plurality of stop notches in said slot, an extension member, provided with a plurality of predetermined stop openings and lbeing slidable in the tubular member, a handle member slidable on said tubular member, a pair of independently operable springurged latches carried'by said handle member, said latches engaging said tubular and extension members respectively, one of said latches being releasable vfor adjustments of the handle member on said tubular member and the other ofsaid latches being releasable for adjustments of the extension member With respect to said tubular member. v l

8. In a motion picture screen stand of the character described, comprising in combination, a standard having a telescoping extension member, a handle member slidably carried on said standard, a case pivoted for turning movements on said handle member, a reel having a length of screen web thereon and being pivotally supported in the case, means at the free end of the web for attachment to said extension member, and latches on said handle member for normally holding the handle member in predetermined fixed positions on said standard and for holding said telescoping extension member in adjusted positions with respect to the handle member.

9. In a collapsible portable motion picture screen stand, comprising, a pair of telescopable members forming a support and with one of said members being adjustable with respect to the other, a handle member slid-ably carried on the non-adjustable member, a case pivoted on said handle member, a reel carried screen web pivotally mounted in said case and having -means at its free end portion for attachment to said adjustable telesco-pable member, a pair of individually operated spring-urged latch means carried by said handle member, one of said latch means being for securing said handle member at predetermined positions on its coacting member, the second latch means ybeing for engaging and holding the adjustable telescopable member at a predetermined extended position with respect to the non-adjustable member for retaining a predetermined exposed length of screen web in exposed condition.

10. In a motion picture screen stand construction, a support comprising at least tWo members one of which is movable longitudinally With respect to the other, a handle member slidably carried on the non-movable member and attachl able to the movable member, a case pivoted for turning movements on said handle member, a reel having a length of screen web thereon and being pivotally supported in the case, means at the free end of the web for attachment to the said movable member, and latches on said handle member for releasably locking the handle member in predetermined positions on the non-movable member and for releasably locking the movable member in predetern'linedr adjusted positions with the handle member.

1l. In a collapsible portable motion picture screen stand, comprising a tubular member having a telescoping member therein forming an adjustable support, a handle member slidably carengagement with said extension member for suprled pnsaiditubularzmember, aireel carried screen lweb :mounted @in .-a -icase thereior ipivoted on said handle `membenzmeans Stor attaching one end :of the screen web extended :from the case to the end of .said ztelescoping lmember, Alatch means :for securing saidrhandle member tot-he tubular member, and a vsecond latch v,means `for securing ithe handle `member to `the telescoping member for retaining va predetermined exposed length of screen web extended Yfrom the rcase, said latch means being releasable independently of each other for bodily adjustments of the handle and teiescoping members on the ztubular member while maintaining lthe` predetermined length of exposedscreenweb.

12. In a structure lof the character described, the combination with -a standard `having `supporting legs, a screen web and reel upon which said web is wound, `a mounting for the reel slidable on saidstandaid, -an extension :for the standard for raising and lowering the height thereof,

moms

means kon4 said -extension to lwhich the free kend of `.the-welzus detachablyengaged for maintaining a predetermined length of web unwound from-.the

reel, and means on vsaid mounting for holding said extension in normal andextended positions and foradjustably positioning said mounting and extension on said standard.

13 In a portable collapsible motion picture screen stand, the ycombination of a standard, an extension for raising and lowering the height thereof, a case pivotally carried on said standard and having a reel carrying screen web therein, means on said case Yengageable by said extension when the case is in parallel relation with the standard for locking the case against pivotal movement, spring means compressible by said extension, latch means holding said extension locked against said spring means, said extension when released being spring-urged to release the LEO J. DU MAIS. 

